Removable stock adapter

ABSTRACT

A stock adapter for removably coupling a stock to a firearm without the use of tools includes an adapter housing; a firearm connector on a first side of the adapter housing; a stock connector on a second side of the adapter housing; and a stock release actuator including an actuator lever rotatably coupled to the adapter housing. The actuator lever is positioned to depress a stock release pushbutton on a firearm when the firearm connector on the stock adapter is attached to a connector for a removable stock on the firearm. The stock release actuator is configured to depress the stock release pushbutton by a displacement of the actuator lever in a direction opposite to the direction for pulling the trigger to discharge the firearm.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/795,516, filed Jan. 22, 2019, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments relate generally to a firearm capable of accepting a removable stock and more particularly to a device for securely and removably attaching a removable stock to a firearm.

BACKGROUND

A stock may be provided on a firearm to support the firearm against a person's shoulder while the firearm is being aimed and fired. The stock may improve firing accuracy and may absorb and distribute recoil forces to reduce discomfort. The stock may be configured to be removed from other parts of the firearm, for example to prepare the firearm for safe storage and/or transport, and for re-attachment to prepare the firearm for use.

A removable stock may include a connector that couples securely to a corresponding stock connector on a firearm. For example, a channel, ridge, or flange on the stock may firmly engage with a corresponding channel, ridge, or flange on the firearm. A picatinney rail connector on a stock may engage with a corresponding picatinney rail on a firearm. Some firearms may use a stock fitted with a buffer tube having a threaded end configured to engage with a corresponding threaded aperture on the firearm. Some buffer tubes have an adapter for connecting to a picatinney rail on a firearm.

The firearm may include a securing mechanism configured to retain a removable stock firmly to the firearm. An example of a securing mechanism includes a spring-loaded pushbutton positioned at the back end of the receiver on the firearm such that the pushbutton may extend into a corresponding pushbutton aperture on the stock. When engaged with one another, the pushbutton and pushbutton aperture oppose separation of the stock from the firearm. The pushbutton may be positioned to avoid unintended release of the stock from the firearm and may therefore be difficult to reach and/or operate. Deliberately operating the securing mechanism to intentionally remove the stock from the firearm may be difficult for a person wearing gloves or a person with poor finger dexterity. The connector to the firearm on the stock and the connector to the stock on the firearm may be engaged so tightly as a result of friction or mechanical interference that striking the stock with a mallet or similar tool may be helpful to separate the stock from the firearm. A prying tool may be needed to access and/or provide sufficient leverage to operate the securing mechanism holding the stock to the firearm. Carrying a suitable tool for removing the stock may not be convenient. Striking a firearm or using a prying tool to remove a stock presents risks of cosmetic and mechanical damage to the stock and other parts of the firearm and injury to the person using the tool, and may cause unintended discharge of the firearm if a person fails to unload the firearm before attempting to remove the stock.

SUMMARY

An example apparatus embodiment of a stock adapter includes an adapter housing; a firearm connector on a first side of the adapter housing; a stock connector on a second side of the adapter housing opposite the first side; and a stock release actuator including an actuator lever rotatably coupled to the adapter housing, with the actuator lever positioned to contact a stock release pushbutton on a firearm when the firearm connector on the stock adapter is attached to a connector for a removable stock on a firearm. The adapter housing is preferably formed with an aperture configured to receive the stock release pushbutton.

The actuator lever extends out from a bottom side of the adapter housing. The stock release actuator is configured to depress the stock release pushbutton on the firearm by a displacement of an outer end of the actuator lever toward the first side of the adapter housing, i.e., toward the firearm and in a direction opposite to the direction for pulling the trigger to discharge the firearm. The actuator lever is formed with a shoulder extending outward from a front side of the actuator lever. The shoulder is positioned on the actuator lever to contact and depress the stock release pushbutton.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of an example embodiment of a stock adapter configured for coupling to a removable stock having a buffer tube.

FIG. 2 shows a view toward a front end of an example stock adapter, illustrating an example of a stock release actuator configured for use with all disclosed stock adapter examples.

FIG. 3 shows a view toward a back end of the example stock adapter of FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrating an example of a stock connector configured for receiving a buffer tube on a stock.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of an example of an actuator lever included in the stock release actuator of the disclosed stock adapter embodiments.

FIG. 5 shows an exploded pictorial view of an example stock adapter, further illustrating examples of components included in the stock release actuator of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the example stock adapter positioned for connection to an example of a removable stock fitted with a buffer tube having a threaded end.

FIG. 7 is a side view continuing the example of FIG. 6, showing the example stock adapter connected to the removable stock.

FIG. 8 is a side view of an example stock adapter having the stock release actuator shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7, and further illustrating an example of a stock adapter having a stock connector matching a stock connector on a firearm.

FIG. 9 is a side view of an example stock connector embodiment interposed between an example stock and an example firearm, with the stock and firearm drawn in broken lines to indicate that the stock and firearm are not part of the disclosed embodiments of a stock adapter.

FIG. 10 is a side view continuing the example of FIG. 9, showing an example of the stock adapter separated from the example firearm and from the example stock, and further illustrating examples of a stock connector on the firearm, a connector to a firearm on the stock, an example stock connector on the stock adapter, and an example firearm connector on the stock adapter.

DESCRIPTION

Apparatus embodiments include a stock adapter configured for safe and easy removal and re-attachment of a stock from other parts of a firearm, without the use of tools and without alteration of the stock and firearm. The example stock adapter embodiments oppose accidental separation of the stock from the firearm and simplify intentional separation of the stock from the firearm. The example stock adapter embodiments securely and removably attach to a firearm between a firearm connector on the stock and a corresponding stock connector on the firearm. Depending on the configuration of the firearm, the stock connector on the firearm may be at the back end of the receiver or may be some distance from the receiver, where the receiver includes the firing mechanism of the firearm. A connector on a front end of the stock adapter has a shape and function corresponding to the connector on the front end of a removable stock configured for attachment to a firearm. Another connector on the back end of the stock adapter has a shape and function corresponding to the stock connector on the firearm. When not in use or when needed for use on another firearm, the stock adapter may be easily removed from the stock and firearm and the stock may be reattached directly to the firearm without the intervening stock adapter.

A stock release actuator included with the stock adapter is positioned to easily and safely depress a stock release pushbutton on the firearm. The stock release actuator provides an actuator lever with mechanical advantage to increase finger force against the lever to a magnitude and direction sufficient for fast and easy depression of the stock release pushbutton. The stock release actuator eliminates the need for a prying tool such as a screwdriver or knife blade to depress the stock release pushbutton. Stock adapter embodiments are advantageous for a person wearing gloves or a person with insufficient finger strength or dexterity to quickly and safely separate the stock from the firearm without the use of tools.

Turning to the examples of FIGS. 1-10, an adapter housing 102 having a front side 108 and a back side 110 is included with all disclosed embodiments of a stock adapter 100. The front side 108 of the adapter housing 102 includes a connector 170 configured for removable attachment to a corresponding connector on a firearm. The connector 170, also referred to herein as the firearm connector 170, preferably matches the size, shape, and attachment features of a corresponding connector on the front end of a removable stock configured for connection to the firearm. The back side 110 of the adapter housing 102 includes another connector 172 configured for removable attachment to a corresponding connector on a stock. The connector 172 on the back side of the adapter housing, also referred to herein as the stock connector 172, optionally matches the size, shape, and attachment features of a corresponding connector on a firearm configured for connection of a removable stock. Alternatively, the stock adapter 100 may include a stock connector that differs from the stock connector on a firearm, thereby enabling sticks with different kinds of connectors to be attached to a firearm. Examples of the firearm connector 170 and stock connector 172 include, but are not limited to, two or more rails on a connector configured for engagement with two or more rails and/or channels on the opposing connector, a buffer tube, a hollow cylindrical receiver for a buffer tube, a picatinney rail, and a picatinney rail adapter and/or picatinney rail connector.

A stock release actuator 168, preferably included in all embodiments of the stock adapter 100, includes an actuator lever 134 rotatably coupled to the adapter housing 102. The actuator lever 134 is positioned in the adapter housing to contact a stock release button on a firearm when the firearm connector 170 on the stock adapter 100 is connected to the corresponding stock connector on the firearm. An amount of force applied to the actuator lever by a person's finger is increased through the mechanical advantage of the stock release actuator and directed onto the spring-loaded stock release button on the firearm to depress the button, enabling the stock adapter 100, and a stock when attached to the stock adapter, to be released from the firearm and/or connected to the firearm without the use of a separate tool for depressing the stock release pushbutton.

The stock release actuator 168 is preferably configured so that the actuator lever 134 is unlikely to be mistaken for the trigger for discharging the firearm. The actuator lever 134 may be held in a rest position by the spring-loaded stock release pushbutton urging the actuator lever toward the back side 110 of the stock adapter 100. Operating the stock release actuator 168 to decouple the stock adapter 100 from the firearm requires a displacement of the outer end 178 of the actuator lever 134 in a forward direction 128, toward the receiver of the firearm and in a direction opposite to the direction in which the trigger is pulled to discharge the firearm.

Embodiments of the stock adapter 100 are further configured to provide an adjustable retaining force for holding the firearm connector 170 on the front side 108 of the adapter housing 102 to the corresponding connector on the back of the firearm. A grub screw 164 threadably engaged with the adapter housing may be selectively extended and retracted to press against the firearm's receiver, thereby increasing or decreasing an amount of force pressing the firearm connector 170 on the stock adapter 100 against the corresponding stock connector on the firearm. The grub screw 164 may be set for easy separation of the stock adapter 100 from the firearm after activation of the stock release actuator 168, for engagement between the stock adapter and firearm that is sufficiently strong to prevent separation of the parts without substantial effort, or for intermediate degrees of difficulty in separating the stock adapter from the firearm as selected by the person making the adjustment.

The example of a stock adapter in FIG. 1 includes the firearm connector 170 on the front side 108 of the adapter housing 102, the stock connector 172 on the back side 110 of the adapter housing, the actuator lever 134 extending outward from a bottom side 112 of the adapter housing, and a grub screw 164 threadably engaged with the adapter housing. The actuator lever 134 is part of the stock release actuator 168. When extended outward, the grub screw is positioned to press against the receiver of the firearm to which the stock adapter 100 is attached. In the example of FIG. 1, the stock connector 172 is configured as a threaded aperture 162 for receiving a buffer tube on a stock.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the stock release actuator 168 in a view toward the front side 108 of the stock adapter 100. In the example of FIG. 2, the firearm connector 170 includes a pair of opposing rails and optional channels configured to attach to a corresponding stock connector on a firearm, a right-side rail 154, a right-side channel 156, a left-side rail 158, and a left-side channel 160. The actuator lever 134 fits into a lever slot 152 formed in the adapter housing. A retaining plate 146 attached to the adapter housing with fasteners 148 holds the actuator lever 134 in the lever slot 152.

When the stock adapter 100 is attached to a firearm, the stock release pushbutton on the firearm extends into a release button aperture 166, preferably engaging the walls of the aperture 166 with a sliding fit and opposing separation of the firearm connector 170 from the corresponding stock connector on the firearm. Displacing the outer end 178 of the actuator lever 134 in a forward direction 128 (ref. FIG. 1) compresses the spring-loaded stock release pushbutton on the firearm, disengaging the pushbutton from the release button aperture 166 and enabling separation of the firearm connector 170 on the stock adapter 100 from the corresponding stock connector on the firearm. The outer end 178 of the actuator lever projects outward from the bottom side 112 of the adapter housing 102 to enable the lever to be displaced by pressure from a person's finger. When finger pressure is removed from the actuator lever 134, the actuator lever may be moved to its rest position toward the back end of the lever slot 152 by force exerted on the actuator lever by the stock release pushbutton.

An example of the back side 110 of the stock adapter 100 is shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, the example stock connector 172 is configured as a receiver for a buffer tube. The stock connector 172 may optionally be formed as a hollow cylinder sized for a sliding fit of a buffer tube, or alternatively for threadable engagement with a buffer tube as suggested by a threaded aperture 162 formed in the stock connector. As suggested in the example of FIG. 3, the grub screw 164 may be accessible from the back side 110 of the adapter housing to permit adjustment of the screw's extension from the front side 108 of the stock adapter 100.

FIG. 4 shows some details of an example actuator lever 134 included in the stock release actuator 168 of the stock adapter 100. A pivot pin 136 passes through the center of rotation 180 of the actuator lever 134. Optional bushings 138 may be placed on the pivot pin 136 on both sides of the actuator lever. The bushings 138 and pivot pin fit into a bushing slot 140 formed in the adapter housing (ref FIG. 5) to enable easy rotation of the actuator lever relative to the adapter housing. A rounded shoulder 142 projecting from a front side of the actuator lever 134 is positioned to depress the stock release pushbutton on a firearm when the stock adapter is connected to the firearm. The amount of mechanical advantage developed by the stock release actuator 168 may be estimated as the ratio of a first value corresponding to the separation distance R1 from the center of rotation 180 to the contact point of a finger against the actuator lever, to a second value corresponding to the separation distance R2 from the center of rotation 180 to the shoulder 142. For the example embodiments of a stock adapter 100 disclosed herein, R1/R2>1, i.e., the mechanical advantage of the stock release actuator is greater than one and the compression force applied to the stock release pushbutton is greater than the compression force applied by a finger to the actuator lever.

FIG. 5 shows some additional features of an example stock adapter 100 in an exploded pictorial view. The firearm connector 170 is positioned on the front side 108 of the adapter housing to engage with a corresponding stock connector on the firearm. The firearm connector 170 may optionally include a right-side channel 156 formed near the right side of the adapter housing 102 and a left-side channel 160 formed near the left side of the adapter housing. The stock connector 172 on the back side 110 of the adapter housing is positioned to engage with a corresponding connector on a stock. The adapter housing 102 is formed with slots and/or apertures for the stock release actuator 168, including the lever slot 152, stock release button aperture 166, bushing slots 140, and threaded apertures 150. The actuator lever 134, stock release pushbutton on the firearm, bushings 138, pivot pin 136, grub screw 164, and fasteners 148 for the retaining plate 146 fit into their corresponding apertures. The component parts of the stock release actuator 168, including the actuator lever 134, the pivot pin 136, and one or more bushings 138 are retained to the adapter housing 102 by the retaining plate 146. Another threaded aperture 150 formed in the adapter housing accepts the grub screw 164.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show examples of a removable stock 202 with a threaded buffer tube 210 and examples of the stock adapter 100. In the example 250 of FIG. 6, the stock adapter 100 is in an example of a position for connection of the stock connector 172 to the threaded end 220 of a buffer tube 210 on a removable stock 202 having a buttstock 222 attached to the buffer tube. An optional locking ring 218 may be threaded onto the threaded portion 220 of the buffer tube 210. In the example of FIG. 7, the threaded end of the buffer tube has been assembled to the threaded aperture 162 on the back side 110 of the stock adapter 100. A locking ring 218 optionally threaded onto the buffer tub may be tightened against the stock adapter 100 to retain the stock very securely in the stock adapter. Even when the stock is very firmly attached to the stock adapter, the stock adapter 100 may be easily attached to and removed from the firearm by operation of the stock release actuator 168 on the stock adapter, for example by displacing the actuator level 134 in the direction marked by an arrow 144 to depress the stock release pushbutton sufficiently to unlock the stock adapter from the firearm. The arrow 144 represents a displacement of the outer end 178 of the actuator lever 134 in a forward direction 128, away from the back side 110 of the adapter housing 102.

FIG. 8. shows an example of a stock adapter having a firearm connector 170 incorporating rails and/or channels, possibly configured for attachment to a picatinney rail, and a stock connector 170 also incorporating rails and/or channels, possibly configured for attachment to a picatinney rail.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a stock adapter 100 attached to an example of a stock 222 and an example of a firearm 200. FIG. 10 continues the example of FIG. 9, showing an example 300 of the firearm 200 disconnected from the stock adapter 100 by a vertical displacement 176 of the stock adapter relative to the firearm, and further showing the example stock 222 disconnected from the stock adapter 100 by a longitudinal displacement 174 of the stock from the stock adapter. The example firearm 200 includes an example of a stock connector 212 configured for connection to a removable stock 202. The firearm connector 170 on the stock adapter 100 is preferably configured to connect to the stock connector 212 on the firearm 200. The stock connector 212 may include one or more rails 204 for engaging with a corresponding connector on a stock. FIG. 10 further illustrates an example of a stock release pushbutton 206 which may be used to retain the stock adapter 100 and/or the stock 222 to the firearm. FIG. 10 also represents an example of a stock having a firearm connector 214 including one or more channels and/or rails 208 for coupling the stock to a firearm. The stock connector 172 on the stock adapter 100 is preferably configured to connect to the firearm connector 214 on the removable stock 222.

Unless expressly stated otherwise herein, ordinary terms have their corresponding ordinary meanings within the respective contexts of their presentations, and ordinary terms of art have their corresponding regular meanings. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus, comprising: an adapter housing; a firearm connector on a first side of said adapter housing; a stock connector on a second side of said adapter housing opposite said first side; and a stock release actuator comprising: an actuator lever rotatably coupled to said adapter housing, said actuator lever positioned to contact a stock release pushbutton on a firearm when said firearm connector is attached to a connector for a removable stock on a firearm; and said adapter housing formed with an aperture configured to receive said stock release pushbutton.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said actuator lever extends out from a bottom side of said adapter housing.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said stock release actuator is configured to depress said stock release pushbutton by a displacement of an outer end of said actuator lever away from said second side of said adapter housing.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said actuator lever comprises a shoulder extending outward from a front side of said actuator lever, said shoulder positioned on said actuator lever to contact said stock release pushbutton.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pivot pin attached to said actuator lever, said pivot pin forming a center of rotation of said actuator lever relative to said adapter housing.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a bushing on said pivot pin, wherein said busing and said pivot pin fit into a bushing aperture formed in said adapter housing.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said adapter housing is formed with a slot for receiving said actuator lever.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a retaining plate attached to said adapter housing, said retaining plate positioned on said adapter housing to retain said actuator lever in said adapter housing.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a grub screw threadably engaged with said adapter housing, said grub screw positioned to extend outward from said first side of said adapter housing.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said grub screw is configured to press said firearm connector against said connector for a removable stock on a firearm.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said stock connector on said adapter housing is configured to receive a buffer tube on a stock for a firearm.
 12. The adapter of claim 11, wherein said stock connector is formed as an internally-threaded hollow cylinder. 